Best Aaron Calafato Podcasts (2025)

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He Was Told He’d Never Walk Again — So He Ran | Short Stories of Hope 5:32

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14h ago5:32

5:32

In this debut Short Stories of Hope bonus episode, Aaron shares the true story of a young boy who was told he’d never walk again. What follows is a moving journey of determination, faith, and the resilience of the human spirit. By the end, you’ll discover who this person was—and how one child’s courage turned shattered records all the way to the Ol…

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The Night I Got Lost in the Woods | A Halloween Story 9:44

4d ago9:44

9:44

In this Halloween episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron shares a true story about getting lost deep in the woods with no phone, no compass, and a rising sense of panic. What begins as a peaceful evening walk turns into a confrontation with fear itself—and a rediscovery of the real meaning behind Halloween. By the end, you’ll see how an ancient story a…

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AT&T CEO’s Viral Memo Sparks Debate on Workplace Loyalty 26:28

4d ago26:28

26:28

In a recent memo AT&T's CEO declared the company had “shifted away” from employment elements rooted in loyalty. Chief Correspondent at Business Insider, Aki Ito, breaks down how the employment contract has collapsed and what “strategic loyalty” looks like when the relationship becomes purely transactional. *Read Aki Ito's article about The Future o…

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The Migraine from Heaven 10:54

11d ago10:54

10:54

In this week's 7 Minute Story, Aaron’s night starts simple, dinner with the family and a quick trip for Advil before his son’s band concert. But what unfolds is a comedy of errors that turns a small headache into a full-blown odyssey. By the end, the story takes a turn that proves even the most frustrating nights can carry an unexpected lesson.📻 If…

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We’re All Using AI — So Why Are We Still Whispering About It? 20:13

11d ago20:13

20:13

Everyone’s using AI. in therapy, at work, even at the doctor’s office. Yet, we still avoid talking about it. AI has become the invisible collaborator behind so much of modern life, but it remains taboo to mention at work and in most public settings. In this episode, we explore the culture lag between private use and public admission and ask: when w…

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The Deer Keeper: Tale of a Roadside Saint 9:18

18d ago9:18

9:18

When Aaron received a text that said, “I think it’s dead—and it’s in your backyard,” he didn’t expect it to lead to one of the most unexpectedly moving encounters of his life. What began as a grim discovery turned into a quiet reflection on empathy, loss, and the humanity that can show up in the most unlikely places. In this 7-minute true story, Aa…

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When AI Makes You Average, You Must Find Your Secret Weapon 22:09

19d ago22:09

22:09

What happens when AI makes average work cheap? How do you stay valuable when AI commoditizes the very skills that once made you special? We explore how comparative advantage, a 200-year-old economic idea, explains today’s career dilemma: when to double down on your craft, when to pivot, and how to uncover the strengths machines still can’t copy. Pl…

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The Case for AI Fast-Food Drive-Thrus 9:35

25d ago9:35

9:35

In 1993, five bucks at a drive-thru could feed a family. Today, it barely covers a soda. In this story, Aaron Calafato takes us through the chaos of the modern fast-food experience—wrong orders, long waits, and the creeping perfection of AI drive-thrus. What starts as a rant about overpriced combo meals becomes something deeper: a meditation on imp…

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AI is Flattening Companies with Fewer Bosses, Bigger Teams 21:19

26d ago21:19

21:19

By The Lonely Office

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Memories from Grandpa’s House 9:03

1M ago9:03

9:03

In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron takes listeners back to one unforgettable day at his Grandpa Joe’s house. From a roadside McMuffin breakfast and legendary Air Force fight story, to stacks of bargain-bin movies, tuna sandwiches on rye, and homemade pasta and meatballs—every detail becomes a core memory worth holding onto. Through his gran…

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Why Job Search Support Groups Are Booming in 2025 25:18

1M ago25:18

25:18

Job search support groups are transforming career hunting from a solo struggle into a multiplayer team effort. Phyl Terry, founder of Never Search Alone, joins us to talk about why even Harvard MBAs are joining support groups to crack today's brutal job market, how job search councils work, and the what's ahead for job seekers as AI rewires the mar…

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Social Media and the Job Hunt: How Recruiters Really See You 28:16

1M ago28:16

28:16

What role does social media really play in your job hunt? TLO's Leah Ova talks with career coach Janel Abrahami to separate myth from reality, exploring how recruiters view your online footprint, what helps (and what backfires), and why one underrated job search tool might be the best advice you’ll hear this year.…

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The Fortune Teller at Bob Evans 8:41

1M ago8:41

8:41

In this episode of 7MS, Storyteller Aaron Calafato shares an encounter with a "fortune teller" at a Bob Evans that reshaped how he saw his future. At 18, he dismissed her vision that he’d trade rock-and-roll dreams for a life centered on home and family. Years later, over breakfast at the same restaurant, Aaron faces the question: did her vision co…

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Shark Tank Host on How Job Autonomy Beats Money 22:42

1M ago22:42

22:42

Shark Tank host Matt Higgins makes the case that job autonomy beats money for long-term power. We break down the strategic “burn the boats” mindset (for goals, not tactics), the three-year quit rule, and how to use a big-brand logo as leverage—somewhere else. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

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Doom Spending vs. FIRE: Can a Kid Pension Fix Retirement? 23:29

1M ago23:29

23:29

From vending machines to van life, today’s money plans feel unhinged. On this episode, we welcome special guest Orianna Rosa Royle —award-winning journalist and Associate Editor at the Success Desk at Fortune. She helps us break down Germany’s “start at age six” pension idea, why Social Security fears are fueling bad choices, and the $32 investing …

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The Barbershop Echo | Season 6 Premiere 9:11

2M ago9:11

9:11

Season 6 of 7 Minute Stories opens in an empty Medina, Ohio barbershop where Saturday morning memories still linger in the air. Aaron Calafato reflects on childhood haircuts, family rituals, and the fear of familiar places fading away. But if we tell stories about these places, we may give them a chance to endure—and when those fears are confronted…

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How Do You Get Hired in an Employers' Market? 23:47

2M ago23:47

23:47

Instead of chasing openings, how do you become a candidate that employers chase? We cover Madeline Mann's "job shopper" system: targeted networking that isn't cringe, the 10%-above rule, work-sample binders that win interviews, and the negotiation language that gets you paid without getting bounced. Special Guest: Madeline Mann Hosts: Matt Sunbulli…

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One Million Missing Jobs, CEO vs Employee Optimism Gap & Vanishing Bosses | TLO Headlines 18:47

2M ago18:47

18:47

On this episode of TLO Headlines cohosts Matt Sunbulli and Aaron Calafato dig into last week's historic jobs revision number (1 million fewer jobs), why executives and workers see the economy so differently, and what “span of control” means when your manager has 20+ direct reports. Finally, they wrap with culture (Severance, The Studio) and the ris…

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Evan Bartels: Songs, Stories, and the Art of Noticing 36:34

2M ago36:34

36:34

In this Storytelling University conversation, Aaron sits down with songwriter Evan Bartels to explore the craft of turning life into song. From the haunting first lines of Montana to the overlooked “side characters” of history, Bartels reveals how noticing small details can unlock entire worlds of meaning. Together, they dig into the tension betwee…

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Job Search Secrets, Interviews, and Confidence | TLO Office Hours 24:07

2M ago24:07

24:07

In this bonus episode, TLO co-host Leah Ova sits down with Linda Raynier—career strategist, speaker, and author of the upcoming book The Quiet Achiever: Your Journey to Authentic Confidence. With nearly 1M YouTube subscribers and over 2.6M LinkedIn Learning students, Linda has become a trusted guide for introverted professionals navigating confiden…

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The Summer I Tried to Keep Everyone 9:46

2M ago9:46

9:46

Aaron remembers the summer he spent in Washington, D.C.—a time of new independence, fast friendships, and an address book filled with names he swore he’d never lose. But as life moved forward, most of those connections faded, leaving behind a bittersweet lesson about memory and the limits of time. Plus, Aaron previews the Season 6 premiere of 7 Min…

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Desperate Job Seekers Lured by Job Scams 21:25

2M ago21:25

21:25

Job-related scams have tripled since 2020, and reported losses are on pace to approach half a billion dollars. These job scams target which desperate workers with fake companies and phantom paychecks. From "pay for your equipment" cons to AI-powered fake interviews stealing personal information, employment fraud are now the riskiest scam for worker…

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Job or Sales Pitch? When Door-to-Door Collides with Boundaries 7:53

2M ago7:53

7:53

In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, storyteller Aaron Calafato reflects on his lifelong clash with door-to-door salespeople—and the one unforgettable mix-up that tested his boundaries at home. With humor and humility, Aaron shows how one bad assumption turned into a lesson about forgiveness, stress, and the fine line between protecting your space …

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Job Hunting: Why the Search Feels Like a Rigged Casino 34:22

2M ago34:22

34:22

Job hunting has started to feel less like building a career and more like sitting at a crooked blackjack table. Candidates burn out chasing dead-end postings, bots flood the system with hundreds of résumés, and interviews stretch into double digits with no payoff. In this episode, we dig into the absurd new rules of the game—and ask whether referra…

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The Blue Plastic Bag | Paper, Plastic, and Control 8:11

2M ago8:11

8:11

In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron Calafato takes a simple grocery store choice—paper or plastic—and spins it into a meditation on control, responsibility, and the ripple effects of everyday decisions. What begins with a floating blue plastic bag in a parking lot leads to staggering truths about pollution, a reckoning with personal accounta…

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Jobs Held Hostage by Housing 29:17

2M ago29:17

29:17

Redfin’s Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather joins TLO to explain how rent spikes, rate-lock, and thin relocation packages are holding jobs hostage—and what policy (or rate cuts) could free them.Read Daryl's new book: Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli…

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Pretend Jobs in China, ICE Dangles $50K & AI Fakes Take Over Interviews | TLO Headlines 16:11

2M ago16:11

16:11

On this week’s TLO Headlines, Aaron and Matt dive into China’s bizarre new trend: young people paying to pretend they have jobs just to ease the stigma of unemployment. They also unpack ICE’s eye-catching $50,000 sign-on bonuses and student loan perks in a massive recruitment drive, and break down how AI impostors are fooling hiring systems—forcing…

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Soledad O’Brien: From Covering Katrina to Shaping Stories for Netflix 17:18

2M ago17:18

17:18

Award-winning journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien — known from CNN, NBC, and HBO, and now the CEO of Soledad O’Brien Productions — joins Aaron to explore the enduring power of storytelling. From Hurricane Katrina to acclaimed documentaries, she shares why human stories resonate more than data and how details can transform the way we understand …

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Learning Left from Right at a Funeral 8:36

2M ago8:36

8:36

At a funeral, Aaron froze in the aisle, unsure whether to go right or left. That moment carried him back to first grade, when Mrs. Brown—his teacher during a chaotic year at home—taught him how to tell right from left using memory and imagination. Years later, at her funeral, Aaron discovered her lesson was still guiding him in ways he never expect…

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AI Boosted My Job performance. Remote Work Erased My Presence. 24:25

2M ago24:25

24:25

Stanford economist Nick Bloom returns with new data showing return-to-office mandates are "dark matter" - constantly reported but not actually happening. We also explore how AI is reshaping worker productivity and whether it may be acting as a tailwind for remote work adoption. Special Guest: Nick Bloom Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://w…

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Job Search Secrets Recruiters Don’t Tell You | TLO Office Hours 30:49

3M ago30:49

30:49

This bonus episode asks real questions that go straight to recruiters and career coaches. In this bonus episode, guest JT O'Donnell, founder and CEO of Work It Daily, shares insider strategies for today’s market: how to back channel into hidden roles, avoid the biggest recruiter icks, and recover from canceled interviews. JT answers quick-hit quest…

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When You Know It’s Too Much: A Warheads Story 8:28

3M ago8:28

8:28

A childhood without candy turned into an all-out Warheads binge — and a tongue injury Aaron Calafato kept secret just to eat them again. In this sweet-and-sour tale, he explores grocery store obsessions, 90s candy culture, and the lengths we go for what we crave.🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠—…

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Hardship, Hustle, and the $53 Trillion Inheritance 25:10

3M ago25:10

25:10

The Great Wealth Transfer is happening now - $53 trillion passing from boomers to younger generations over the next two decades. Bank of America says young working professionals could be the wealthiest generation by 2035. But there's a psychological twist nobody talks about: what happens when sudden wealth destroys the very drive that creates succe…

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The Vibe Coding CTO: TLO Stories “Heard at Work” 2:36

3M ago2:36

2:36

He never wrote a single line of code—but somehow became head of engineering. In this short TLO Heard at Work story, we meet a hand-drawn cloud diagram enthusiast who vibe-coded his way to the top… then disappeared without a trace.By The Lonely Office

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The Last Blockbuster and the Death of Movie Night 8:19

3M ago8:19

8:19

Aaron reflects on his growing inability to choose and enjoy movies in the age of endless streaming—and the unexpected documentary that finally broke his paralysis. It leads him to a powerful realization: the death of Blockbuster didn’t just end a store, it ended an experience.🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠⁠ YouTub…

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Connecting through Story and Creativity featuring storyteller Aaron Calafato 57:28

3M ago57:28

57:28

My guest is Aaron Calafato, an award-winning storyteller, narrative designer, and content strategist, for some of the world’s fastest growing companies. His podcast, 7 Minute Stories, is autobiographical and extemporaneous — the man writes nothing down — and has achieved a cult following, reaching more than 30 million people worldwide. When he’s no…

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The Wealth Trap: Why Top 10% of Earners Still Don’t Feel Rich 24:56

3M ago24:56

24:56

What does true wealth mean anymore? With the rise of housing, healthcare, childcare and tuition costs, it feels like financial freedom isn’t a number, but a moving target. This week, we discuss the lag between our perception of wealth and the economic reality, and how we can recalibrate—with a little help from author Nassim Nicholas Taleb, whose de…

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AI Crushes Grad Jobs & CEOs Brag About Layoffs | TLO Headlines 20:00

3M ago20:00

20:00

On this week’s TLO Headlines, Aaron and Matt unpack Astronomer’s bold PR pivot—hiring Ryan Reynolds’ ad agency (with Gwyneth Paltrow starring) to reframe the Coldplay kiss‑cam scandal—and what that reveals about confronting workplace crises head‑on. They also break down Silicon Valley AI startups adopting 996 work schedules, explore how AI is decim…

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The Missing Person, Mozzarella Sticks & an Ending You Won’t Believe 8:10

3M ago8:10

8:10

When a missing person case hit Aaron’s community, he didn’t expect to get involved—until mozzarella sticks at Arby’s made it personal. In this story, Aaron shares how an ordinary craving turned into an extraordinary connection and an ending no one saw coming.🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠ YouTube Channel⁠— these l…

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How Zohran Mamdani’s Win Signals New Rules of Engagement 23:53

3M ago23:53

23:53

When Zohran Mamdani clinched the Democratic nomination for NYC mayor, it blindsided New York’s business elite—not because the signs weren’t there, but because they weren’t listening. His surprise victory signals a shift not just in how people communicate, but in their willingness to engage openly on issues old media once casually dismissed—often on…

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Trump's $1K Baby Bonus Explained (And Why Your Office Snacks Are Gone) | TLO Headlines 21:25

3M ago21:25

21:25

This episode kicks off a brand-new TLO Headlines format— weekly breakdowns of work and culture stories worth knowing. This episode, hosts Aaron and Matt cover everything from the $1,000 baby bonus in Trump’s new spending bill, to Stephen Colbert’s late-night exit, to why your free office snacks might be disappearing for good.…

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The Prayer: What I Heard in the Hospital Changed Me Forever 8:07

3M ago8:07

8:07

While sitting beside his grandmother before heart surgery, Aaron witnesses a moment of prayer that transforms his understanding of vulnerability, faith, and human connection. What began as a simple hospital visit becomes an unexpected chorus of hope echoing down the hallway. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his YouTube C…

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Transforming Grief into Creativity and Joy featuring author SC Perot 47:16

3M ago47:16

47:16

SC Perot is the perfect guest for these trying times. She’s the author of the USA Today bestselling book Styles of Joy, which prompts readers to examine joy in their own lives. And while the book is about joy, it sprang from a place of deep grief. After leaving her corporate law career, then enduring a divorce, which resulted in losing family, frie…

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ChatGPT for Jobs? How to Use AI to Guide Your Career 27:49

3M ago27:49

27:49

AI isn’t a shortcut to the corner office. It’s a tool that most are using wrong. We’re joined by Jeremy Schifeling, former LinkedIn insider and author of Career Coach GPT. He breaks down how to actually use AI to guide your career, from standing out to recruiters to writing resumes that don’t sound like a robot.Special Guest: Jeremy Schifeling Host…

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Angus Fletcher (Story Scientist, OSU): Why Storytelling Is More Powerful Than Data, AI, or Logic 26:35

4M ago26:35

26:35

What if storytelling isn’t just communication—but the original form of intelligence? Angus Fletcher, story scientist and Ohio State professor (featured on Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History Podcast), explains why narrative thinking is more powerful than data, logic, or AI. From neurons to Shakespeare to U.S. Special Ops, this conversation revea…

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They Called Me “America” — But They Were the Dream 7:57

4M ago7:57

7:57

After college, Aaron spent a quiet summer in rural Ohio, preparing for a new life in New York. But one Saturday on a sunbaked soccer field, he joined a league of migrant workers—and they gave him a name he’d never forget. They called him America. But watching them play, celebrate, and return to the fields, he realized—they were the dream all along.…

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White Collar Workers Are the New Factory Workers 24:27

4M ago24:27

24:27

Your job used to require judgment, creativity—even coffee breaks. Now? You validate AI output, reject errors, and move digital widgets from column A to B. Welcome to the new white-collar factory floor. This week, we’re joined by Emma Burleigh (Success Reporter at Fortune) to unpack what the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, meant when he said …

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The Phantom PowerPoint Queen: TLO Stories “Heard at Work” 3:27

4M ago3:27

3:27

Maria only shows up to work once a quarter—but when she does, it’s a full-blown performance. In this TLO Heard at Work story, we explore how one PowerPoint presentation turned a barely-there employee into an office legend.By The Lonely Office

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I Raced Shamu at SeaWorld—and Missed the Real Story Unfolding 8:06

4M ago8:06

8:06

In 1993, a 10-year-old Aaron Calafato got the opportunity of a lifetime: to race a killer whale named Shamu at SeaWorld in front of a roaring crowd. What started as a dream moment turned into public humiliation—and a soaking wet lesson he never forgot. But decades later, that memory sparked a deeper question: What did Shamu feel like in that same s…

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Touching Souls and Changing Lives featuring Creative Powerhouse Barry Dean 1:00:00

4M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

Our guest, Barry Dean, is a double threat. Not only is he a writer of No.1 country and pop songs but he's also the CEO of Luci, a company dedicated to creating smart wheelchair technology for individuals with disabilities, like his daughter Catherine. Our conversation is one of the most compelling we've had on the show -- he's a fantastic, funny, a…